Discussions By Condition: Head conditions

Head pressure, Spaced out, foggy, dizzy, fatigue, top neck ache

A month and 1/2 ago i started feeling constantly spaced out, and cognitively deficient. A couple of days after i started feeling a constant dull headache... almost like it's brain pressure. A week after that i realized how the dull headache would radiate from the base of my skull / top of my spine and spread through out my head. Now my whole neck aches and the the dull ache at the top of my spine / base of my skull and head intensified slightly.

i use to enjoy intellectual conversation but now find it somewhat difficult because of frequent brain ****s, memory gaps and I feel mentally slow. I constantly have to wrestle with a shortened attention span and a spaced out feeling with passive meditation. I also feel like everything in my head registers things much more slowly... verbally and visually. Sometimes i make really stupid decisions like looking for milk in the co bard... as if i'm so spaced out that i do things without before i think about it..

some history:I use to be a gym freak until 6 months ago. 2 years ago, While working out i use to feel a pinched nerve in my neck... one time i got really sick after immediately after a gym session where i was lifting heavy overhead. I was in the Navy so they just handed me Tylenol and sent me back to work. I was so sick i could barely move and my neck was aching... I had a lot of cold sweaty nights. It lasted about 5 days and i lost 20 pounds. i thought it was the flu but my two overweight friends saw how skinny i was and ( I s**t you not) decided to lick the rhym of the cup i was drinking out of but never got sick. When i got somewhat healthy I went back to the gym and the same less intense symptoms showed up again.. but i felt my neck hurting first. so i stayed out the gym for a month.

also, i expirimented with Pot this year from June till September.. then again in the beginning of November for a week. But i know people with who smoked for a decade and don't share my symptoms.

unfortunately i can't go to the doctor at the moment because i don't have health insurance. (No you don't get it once out the Service) Can anyone help me out, i've been reading forums all week and didn't get a diagnosis. Does anyone have any information or know where i can ask around?

411 Replies:

I got exacty the same syptoms. One doctor called it whiplash, a MRI showed degeneration in the neck. It feels like a lack of oxygene as if arteries are blocked right under the skull on one side. I have to disappoint you, my doctors didn't undertake ny action and I wonder if that would change the situation, it's more risky to do anything about it. But I can understand you must suffer. The problem is: you know that it causes you difficulies, but other people cannot understand what you're going through.

Hi there, I'm in the U.k and im suffering from exactly the same symptoms, it happened out of nowhere really, one day i felt kind of out of it, but only for a while so i thought nothing of it, then the next day i felt like that permanently, that was four months ago now. I was obviously really concerned about it being a brain tumor so i went to the hospital and doctors but they insisted they saw no warning signs and put it down to stress, anyway i kept pestering them as i didnt believe this diagnosis and the problem was still there. In the end they sent me to a neurologist and for an mri scan, it came back completely normal which was obviously a relief.The problem is, I dont know what to do now? they say they cant see anything wrong with me, but i still feel terrible, it's completely ruined my life.Before this I used to lift weights quite a bit and am wondering if i somehow pulled something or damaged a nerve.I just want an answer so it can be fixed and i can have my life back.

This is interesting, I have the same symptoms, I also go to the gym. Last night I had to go bed earlier then usual. If I walked around I felt like crap about to pass out. I went to the gym earlier, no weaker, but I was getting knocked up a whole lot worse. Before I went to bed, headache, pressure above the spinal cord back of head, felt not so dizzy but sort of. Woke up and I feel fine, but I still don't feel right. Been like this for the last two weeks. I am going to see Doctor myself as this is not normally me.Good luck with your troubles mate.Kind Regards,Jim

hey everyone.. new to this, but here goes! I too have similar symptoms. started 4 moths ago, as a "spaced out feeling", not dizzy, but like with a heavy head kinda feeling. like you would feel if you had a sever head cold, you know the symptoms ( head hurts really bad when shaken). so went to my dr. he told me with little or no discharge, it was more than likely "viral".. told me to add more vita min c to my diet. sysmptoms kept recurring over the next 2 months, while adding in ear pain, and slight headaches. I was now convinced I had an inner ear infection, so back to my doc, he found nothing upon exam, referred to me ear nose throat, and then an eye doc. had lengthy exams at both, with no problem found at either. convinced the ear doc to start an antibiotic, it did nothing.so back to my regular doc, convinced himto try another anitbiotic, as I was sure i had an infection somewhere causing my problem. so after 3 doses of antibiotics, and many ibuprofen and acetamenophen. still NO help in resolving this issue... please anyone with any ideas let me know : )

Sounds to me as though you need to see an osteopath or physiotherapist. You could try wearing a foam cervical collar when the headache is bad. Keep away from the gym. Get some ice packs onto the back of the neck. Get someone to gently massage your neck to relieve the muscle spasm.

I suffered whiplash from an auto accident and have pain at the base of my skull, dizziness/vertigo, headache, etc. I had the MRI, I saw the neurologist, I went to a Dizzy and Balance specialist. I was finally referred to an ENT specializing in dizziness. My diagnosis is Vertigo Associated Migraine. Most doctors don't know what this condition is and so it's highly misdiagnosed. There are no tests for it. They rule out everything else to determine this is what you have. Migraine doesn't mean "headache." My symptoms of a Migraine start with neck/base of head pain, then dizziness which results in a spaced out/foggy feeling, then headache. The dizziness can last for weeks because the migraine can last for weeks. It's possible some of you with pain in the neck/base of skull did injure your neck and now have migraines as a result. MRI will not show this kind of damage as its soft tissue damage. Best of luck and don't give up. The treatment plan if I can't manage the symptoms is anti-depression meds (they don't know why it works..but they claim it works), which I won't take. I don't need to deal with the side-effects which could be worse than what I'm feeling now. I've found releif thru accupuncture and chiro.

I've been reading a book written by Elaine Hollingsworth which you can obtain from a website doctorsaredangerous.com.au It is the most useful insight into modern health problems that I have ever read. I am always quoting from it.She talks a lot about low thyroid function among other things. She recommends that we eat mostly fruit and vegetables, and high quality protein. She suggests that drugs and chemicals are to be avoided. Read all labels of everything you eat or put on your skin, and if it reads like a chemistry laboratory then you should not use it. eg. Chemicals are typically added to water, sprayed on food, fed to animals, used in cosmetics, toothpaste etc etc. Drugs like anticholesterols and antacids, anything that your ancestors would not have eaten.Remove all fats from your diet except for butter, coconut oil and olive oil. Make sure the protein you eat is from organic free range sources. Don't eat soy at all, in any form.It is a most interesting and informative website which I highly recommend

I have also been feeling this way for years now. Like a constant drunk feeling. I regularly get nose and throat infections. I have not had a car accident or anything like that. No acidents at the gym. I do suffer from sleep disorders though and went to a nurologist years ago for that. But everytime I go to my doctor I get fobebd off with something or another. I have been tested for diabeties, vit b-12, ME, chronic fatigue syndrome. All sorts. But it really effects my day to day life... I find it hard concentrating at work. Makes silly mistakes. I too look for things in silly places, or I will be looking right at it and not see it... I forget if I have said something to someone. Things like that. Constantly tired and spaced out. Its horrible! Its really getting me down. And it seems the non one understands. I feel depressed for no reason! Its so so so so wierd. My last diagnoses was adult azbergers!!! Absolute rubbish! My doctor said basically there is no cure, you just have to live with it... Well I am not sure how much longer I can without going completely insane! Needless to say I have changed doctors and am off to see them next week... Even while typing this I feel wierd. I fullness feeling in my ears and that half drunk half sober feeling... Not sure if anyone else gets this... but guilt feelings? From nothing... you go out and have fun or something but feel terribly guilty the day after.... EEEaaak!!!!!!!!!

I have also been feeling this way for years now. Like a constant drunk feeling. I regularly get nose and throat infections. I have not had a car accident or anything like that. No acidents at the gym. I do suffer from sleep disorders though and went to a nurologist years ago for that. But everytime I go to my doctor I get fobebd off with something or another. I have been tested for diabeties, vit b-12, ME, chronic fatigue syndrome. All sorts. But it really effects my day to day life... I find it hard concentrating at work. Makes silly mistakes. I too look for things in silly places, or I will be looking right at it and not see it... I forget if I have said something to someone. Things like that. Constantly tired and spaced out. Its horrible! Its really getting me down. And it seems the non one understands. I feel depressed for no reason! Its so so so so wierd. My last diagnoses was adult azbergers!!! Absolute rubbish! My doctor said basically there is no cure, you just have to live with it... Well I am not sure how much longer I can without going completely insane! Needless to say I have changed doctors and am off to see them next week... Even while typing this I feel wierd. I fullness feeling in my ears and that half drunk half sober feeling... Not sure if anyone else gets this... but guilt feelings? From nothing... you go out and have fun or something but feel terribly guilty the day after.... EEEaaak!!!!!!!!!Hey Dude,Im the same, see my post on page 1.I also get the 'Guilt Feeling'. I dont think its guilt, its just alcohol/hangovers makes you feel incredibly anxious. This constant 'FullHead' that most of us feel is obvioulsy making us depressed/anxious etc so most of the symptoms that we qoute to the doctors appear as if it could be anxiety or depression. I usually go out every fri with my mates and the hangover lasts for days, shakey, anxious, nautiuos and just a bizarre feeling as if iv done somthing wrong ha, its insane!Few things to try:Do you drink plenty of water ? I was seeing a ciroprachter and he mentioned being dehydrated makes you feel dizzy/light headed and can make the muscles in the back of your neck/base of your skull ache and spur on headaches.Other things I was thinking of were eye strain, If i close my eyes i dont feel so bad, sounds odd but try it!!Also posture, if you feel at the base of your skull where it joins your neck, either side of there is always tight and stiff, even though I keep myself fit. I drive alot and sit at my desk, all crunched up, just habit, this could be causing the tension feeling.You've defo hit the nail on the head tho matey, the 'Hungover Feeling'. It does feel like that, almost as if youve had a couple of pints, or even the morning after.Hang in there bud!Keep the post going, its good listening to other people who have the same probs... Mabye someone might get an answer to what it could be!

hello everyone,of course im suffering from the same symptoms you all have and its driving me crazy. it was interesting reading how you guys describe what your feeling. i think i suffer from this the most cuz ironically im a creative director at an advertising agency and my job is to THINK, and it just hurts to think. sometimes when i push my self to think hard without zoning out i feel like my brain is getting filled with piss (worse than brain ****s).im not sure that the gym is the issue cuz i dont go to the gym. i hope someone finds a ***n solution and good luck to all, i feel for you cuz i feel what you feel

Hi all you head pressure, spaced out, fog brained people. I have been there. I was diagnosed with everything from depressed to myesthenia gravis, to over-reacting. Because another family member became ill I did a bunch of research and discovered the intense, varied effects of having yeast overgrowth in the body. It can produce all of your symptoms and more. It underlies addictions (you know why because you become desperate to stop feeling this), obesity, alllergies, chronic fatique and many bowel issues. Check it out. Go to www.yeastconnection.com, read and answer the questionnaire. The questionaire acts as a history so answer yes if it were ever true. Candida/yeast (which is not just in the vagina) flourishes with outpouring of hormones (stress, pregnancy, new babies, war), feed on antibiotics and sugar so notice if you had any of these in the 2 years before these symptoms started. If this seems to be the problem or a part of it contact me at swrightman@telus.net for more information, a food plan that works and a safe effective method of killing it. By killing the fungus, a food plan is only necessary for 2-3 weeks and we can all do that. I had this all my life and can't tell you what is feels like to feel good. Before I honestly thought I would rather not be here. Looking forward to hearing from you if this resonates with you.

WOWI am not alone.I have had this for 1 year and 1 month now. At frist like above i honestly thought i wasn't going to make it very much long as i was sooooooo spaced out i could barely drive. Whatever it is have gotten a bit better for me i am able to function day to day now where as before i was working and then just laying on the couch all night till it was time to sleep. I dunno if any one else is hypogyicemic (sp?) but i had one bad attack of this 1 year and 1 month ago and have never been myself since i am desperate to go back to my normal life. Now days there is some times i feel pretty OK then it sets back in comes and goes. Its too hard for other people to understand how bad i feel witch also makes it very hard.I have some different syptoms as some of you me i get...-pessure at the back of my skull/neck witch will spread all the way to the back of my eye and only the right side-check mussles get sore they feel like i have been holding my jaw shut tite for hours and i get an anxious feeling-of course the brian fog /dizzinessI do think i get "headaches" it just a dull pain when it goes from my neck to my eye not really thrubing like a headache. also my vision just instanly worsened since this all started.

Hi Everyone,I too am in the same boat and firstly I just want to say how much I empathise with everyone who is going through this, it sucks big time! Plus it can be really hard to explain how you feel to others, which can make the experience even worse because nobody understands.I have had this for around two years now. It all began after I went to see an osteopath who manipulated my neck and obviously he did not do a very good job and/or my body did not respond well at all. As a result I strongly advise you to stay away from neck crackers, they can do more harm than good! I also find it interesting, having read other people's posts, that they too have had some neck involvement. It has been a very difficult journey since then. I have tried so many avenues to get relief; doctors, neurologists, massage, herbs, psychologists, i have had scans, blood tests and more, and like many others I too have not yet found relief. However I am not giving up! I will hang in there and keep trying to find something that will lift the fog. I am determined not to let this ruin my life, even though it can be terrible, I am determined to do what I can to help myself. I think the best thing is to get a thorough check up from your GP to rule out anything sinister and also make sure your fog is not coming from anxiety or depression. If you get the all clear with these things then do your best not to be afraid of the sensations. Fear of it makes it worse and constantly focussing on it makes it take over your every waking moment. The more you pay attention to the fog, the more you get consumed by it. Do your best to distract yourself and don't be too ******n yourself if you're a bit slow, confused etc. be gentle, patient and keep asking for help and support. You may just stumble accross someone who can help you. I know it is extremely hard, but you posess a power within you that is bigger than this discomfort so please try not to let this problem ruin your life.I salute all of us because we are trying to find ways to help ourselves and I am hopeful that something will work eventually.Warmest Wishes;Michelle

Hey,This is crazy, but I have had the same symptoms for almost 3 or 4 months now. They got really bad in the middle and have eased some, now it's just constant. I have this "pressure" in the back of the head and neck that doesn't give me any pain, it's almost like there's a hand pushing my head down. I also used to work out 5 days a week, but got a back injury, and stopped working out. At the same time I started seeing a chiropractor, who I don't see anymore because nothing was happening. My vision in only my right eye immediately got worst when it started (one eye double vision), I had eye strain, and my right ear rings on and off. The "fog" was really bad for about 2 weeks, all I wanted to do was lay around and not think or read or talk or anything. Since then it's gotten better, or at least I've been able to start ignoring it better. Some days it almost completely goes away and I think that it's over, then the next day I walk into a store and starts up just as fast again. It's probably at it's worst when I go into large stores and am walking around. It's more annoying than anything, like if someone keeps tapping you on the back of the head, day after day after day after day. I'd rather just have pain and deal with it than this annoyance. I do believe I am healed in ****s name! Doctors just nod and collect a paycheck offering ZERO answers, so I will stand on the word of God!

Hey,This is crazy, but I have had the same symptoms for almost 3 or 4 months now. They got really bad in the middle and have eased some, now it's just constant. I have this "pressure" in the back of the head and neck that doesn't give me any pain, it's almost like there's a hand pushing my head down. I also used to work out 5 days a week, but got a back injury, and stopped working out. At the same time I started seeing a chiropractor, who I don't see anymore because nothing was happening. My vision in only my right eye immediately got worst when it started (one eye double vision), I had eye strain, and my right ear rings on and off. The "fog" was really bad for about 2 weeks, all I wanted to do was lay around and not think or read or talk or anything. Since then it's gotten better, or at least I've been able to start ignoring it better. Some days it almost completely goes away and I think that it's over, then the next day I walk into a store and starts up just as fast again. It's probably at it's worst when I go into large stores and am walking around. It's more annoying than anything, like if someone keeps tapping you on the back of the head, day after day after day after day. I'd rather just have pain and deal with it than this annoyance. I do believe I am healed in ****s name! Doctors just nod and collect a paycheck offering ZERO answers, so I will stand on the word of God!

Hi everyone! I have been reading all of your responses and I am so glad that I'm not alone. I've had so many different symptoms I don't know where to start. 2 and a half years ago is when I started getting tingling sensations. Sometimes in my fingers, sometimes in my legs, even my lower back. Gradually over time I've experienced muscle spasms, sharp pains down my spine and a whole bunch of other odd symptoms that would take me all day to describe. I've suffered from allergies ever since I was a kid and I'm now 25. Post nasal drip, sinus infections, etc. are nothing new to me. However, for the past several months I've been living in a fog. My head stays cloudy constantly. My vision is getting worse and I'm drowsy and fatigued all the time. I tried to excerise to help with the symptoms but instead I would get this pounding pressure in the back of my neck near the base of my skull. I'm also getting tension headaches in that area from time to time. The list goes on and on. I don't know if all the symptoms are related or isolated from eachother. Also, all these symptoms conveniently began after my lifestlye and habits changed. I got a desk job working on a computer for hours at a time, had a death and the family, and went through a separation. Lots of drama. This makes it hard to determine whether it's stress, poor posture, or health. I've been going back and forth to the doctor for 2 years and now I don't even go anymore because I feel embarrassed that my doc thinks I'm a hypochondriac. The only time I feel better is when I pray. Thats the only thing that helps. I just wish these symptoms would go away because this head cloudiness and numbing senses are making me feel like I'm slowly dissapearing.

In the same boat as all of you. Only thing i cant rid myself of is the neck pressure/balance problems. (feels as though someitmes i am walking on uneven surface.BIO: Apr 2008 - was cracking my neck then sudden onset of head pressure, balance issues, strange head sensations, seizure like + common anxiety symp. (brain fog - diziness), bloodwork, MRI brain, CT brain all clear, CT neck found retrolisthesis of c4/c5 (not sure if this is cause) - still exploringOct 2008 - managed to rid the anxiety, head pressure gone, brain fog gone, neck pressure remains, balance issues remainApr - 2009 - Orthodics fittted to correct pronation of feet (most likely caused from neck pressure sending mixed up signals to my body causing pronation), balance improved significantlyJune - 2009 - Placed on biofeedback program (to eliminate "anxiety" that neuroligist suggests), passed, I am not anxiousCurrent - still have base of skull pressure and a constant tremor through body almost like a small parkinsons or a small essential tremor, also weird sensation when i turn my head left to right like i can feel the back of my head/neck muscles move, hard to detect whether the pressure is muscle, nerve, spinal cord related.

I have the same thing except i was drunk when i got it and i dont realy remember what happened if i got that pintch or crack in my neck that gave me it but i just need to know is their a cure for w/e this stuff is

Its called Derealisation or Depersonalisation . Its a form of anxiety which has been in some ways ruining my life since april this year. For ages i did'nt know what was wrong with me. I constantly felt like i was in a daze trapped inbetween a dream world and reality. Constantly worrying i had something wronge with my brain i looked for possible answers on the internet and in various health books, at 1st i found nothing which related to me. A week into feeling like this i was going insaine. Questioning my sanity and having huge panic attacts and anxiety. I was a mess. Even not being able to work.Previous to this i took salvia. In my mind i thought i was still half in a trip. That maybe the drug had'nt left my system for some reason, but it was'nt that.Finaly after 5 weeks of feeling like my life was slowly ending i found a website which explained about a type of anxiety. Well 2 to be exact Depersonalisation and Derealisation.(big words i know, which is why i prob had never heard of them) Sufferers of Depersonalisation or Derealisation feel divorced from both the world and from their own body. Often people who experience depersonalisation claim that life "feels like a dream", things seem unreal, or hazy; some say they feel detached from their own body. Another symptom of this condition can be the constant worrying or strange thoughts that people find hard to switch off..People often say that no matter how hard they try, they don't feel like they can interact with the world around them. They feel a sense of detachment from their surroundings, finding it hard to talk and connect with others. Also they feel no love for the people closest to them and even question if they did a certain task or had a particular conversation. The most upsetting thing is they lose a sense of who they are and can't seem to perceive themselves as being normal. Depersonalisation is a common and understandable offshoot of the anxiety condition. Before going further into depersonalisation, let me clear up one thing,which is something I get asked often. “No, you are not going mad.” This feeling comes from being constantly worried about your own problems, but it is not serious or harmful in any way and has a totally logical explanation. It is temporary and, with patience and understanding, eventually passes like any other symptom.Depersonalisation occurs with anxiety because you are so used to watching yourself, questioning your illness, day in, day out, that you start to feel detached from the outside world. Your mind has become tired and less resilient through watching yourself and worrying about your symptoms. It has been bombarded with worrying thoughts and becomes fatigued. When our limbs tire, they ache. When our mind tires, we feel these strange feelings of detachment from the world around us, experiencing an almost dreamlike state, convincing ourselves that we are going mad or losing it. You are not; your mind is just so very tired and just craves a rest from all this introspection of oneself.When people are caught up in the worry cycle, they begin to think deeply and constantly. They study themselves from deep within, checking in and focusing on their symptoms. They may even wake in the morning only to continue this habit, “How do I feel this morning? “I wonder if I will be able to get through today”. What’s this new sensation I feel?” This may go on all day, exhausting their already tired mind further. This constant checking in and constant assessing of their symptoms then becomes a habit, but like all other habits this one can also be changed.4 months later im alot calmer and can control it alot better although it still gets the better of me. The reason i made this thread is because i've spoke to loads of people who have simular feelings to what i had and did'nt know what it was. I know how bad i was when i didnt understand what was going on so if i can help someone else then great! I was also wondering if anyone else has this and knows already what it was and do you have any addvise on how to deal with it as its still hard to deal with at times.Sorry if i bored some people(which im sure i did)_Disturbed_

Its called Derealisation or Depersonalisation . Its a form of anxiety which has been in some ways ruining my life since april this year. For ages i did'nt know what was wrong with me. I constantly felt like i was in a daze trapped inbetween a dream world and reality. Constantly worrying i had something wronge with my brain i looked for possible answers on the internet and in various health books, at 1st i found nothing which related to me. A week into feeling like this i was going insaine. Questioning my sanity and having huge panic attacts and anxiety. I was a mess. Even not being able to work.Previous to this i took salvia. In my mind i thought i was still half in a trip. That maybe the drug had'nt left my system for some reason, but it was'nt that.Finaly after 5 weeks of feeling like my life was slowly ending i found a website which explained about a type of anxiety. Well 2 to be exact Depersonalisation and Derealisation.(big words i know, which is why i prob had never heard of them) Sufferers of Depersonalisation or Derealisation feel divorced from both the world and from their own body. Often people who experience depersonalisation claim that life "feels like a dream", things seem unreal, or hazy; some say they feel detached from their own body. Another symptom of this condition can be the constant worrying or strange thoughts that people find hard to switch off..People often say that no matter how hard they try, they don't feel like they can interact with the world around them. They feel a sense of detachment from their surroundings, finding it hard to talk and connect with others. Also they feel no love for the people closest to them and even question if they did a certain task or had a particular conversation. The most upsetting thing is they lose a sense of who they are and can't seem to perceive themselves as being normal. Depersonalisation is a common and understandable offshoot of the anxiety condition. Before going further into depersonalisation, let me clear up one thing,which is something I get asked often. “No, you are not going mad.” This feeling comes from being constantly worried about your own problems, but it is not serious or harmful in any way and has a totally logical explanation. It is temporary and, with patience and understanding, eventually passes like any other symptom.Depersonalisation occurs with anxiety because you are so used to watching yourself, questioning your illness, day in, day out, that you start to feel detached from the outside world. Your mind has become tired and less resilient through watching yourself and worrying about your symptoms. It has been bombarded with worrying thoughts and becomes fatigued. When our limbs tire, they ache. When our mind tires, we feel these strange feelings of detachment from the world around us, experiencing an almost dreamlike state, convincing ourselves that we are going mad or losing it. You are not; your mind is just so very tired and just craves a rest from all this introspection of oneself.When people are caught up in the worry cycle, they begin to think deeply and constantly. They study themselves from deep within, checking in and focusing on their symptoms. They may even wake in the morning only to continue this habit, “How do I feel this morning? “I wonder if I will be able to get through today”. What’s this new sensation I feel?” This may go on all day, exhausting their already tired mind further. This constant checking in and constant assessing of their symptoms then becomes a habit, but like all other habits this one can also be changed.4 months later im alot calmer and can control it alot better although it still gets the better of me. The reason i made this thread is because i've spoke to loads of people who have simular feelings to what i had and did'nt know what it was. I know how bad i was when i didnt understand what was going on so if i can help someone else then great! I was also wondering if anyone else has this and knows already what it was and do you have any addvise on how to deal with it as its still hard to deal with at times.